On the on his gatesnotes.com blog, Gates wrote, “Nearly three years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made one of the boldest comments on public health that I have ever heard from an elected official. It's still having a big impact today.”

“I can’t think of another time when a national leader has broached such a sensitive topic so frankly and so publicly. Even better, Modi backed up his words with actions. Two months after that speech, he launched a campaign called Clean India (“Swachh Bharat” in Hindi), which now includes ending open defecation nationwide by 2019, installing 75 million toilets throughout the country—75 million!—and making sure that no untreated waste is dumped into the environment,” he added.

The Microsoft founder, during his visit to India last year had also lauding PM Modi's demonetisation decision.

"The Prime Minister's bold move to demonetise high-value denominations and replace with new notes with high security features is an important step to deflate India?s shadow economy," Gates had said.

He had also added that India "has all the pieces in place for a compelling vision for digital financial inclusion. Aadhaar will convert a cumbersome, paper-based account opening process into a 30-second, all-digital system.”

The SBM was officially launched on October 2, 2014 by Modi himslef. It aims universal sanitation and open defecation eradication by 2019, on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

It is coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) with two Sub-Missions, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).

Modi had also nominated 27 prominent personalities from various walks of life for promoting his pet programme. The list includes Amitabh Bachchan, Ramdev and Sachin Tendulkar among others.